Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-12-07
His First Love.

saltwater Turnpike, just before you came
70 Martin Leaver's farm house. Aud it had
she reputation of being the darkest piece of
road ct night in the country.
That was the reason Mile Leaver, who
was Obliged TO drive to the village nearly
every afternoon, always made it point, If
possible. to get through these woods before
sunset.
But upon this particular June day she
had fingered at shop to select ribbons and
y feather for her last summers bonnet
which she was making with her own ever
busy hands.
II takes DIAL of tins to pick out such
triGes, especially when enc has only half
sovereign with which to pay for them.
Hence, the sun WAS sinking behind q
western cloud hank before Nillie drove ihs
sorrel borse and rusty wagon out upon she
onsly road.
~ don't care: I'm nos Que bit afraid"
5fillie declared, as the little horse, which
sas far from baiug marvel of flsetness.
amblsd ho,newsrd.
She began to hum lively air, and fell to
debating With herself whether the lighter
shade OF blue would not have been more
becoming to her blonde prettiness than the
dark which she had chosen.
Miss Tucker will exchange them for me
tomorrow if decide to take the light +" the
finally decided.
And having disposed to the matter tenn
porarily, she was at liberty to notice how
very, very dark it was growing.
The sun had gone from view entirely,
and the cloud ba ak was overspreading the
whole horizon. And just ahead was the
strip Of pioes, through which the narrow
road led it's dark, sinuoug course.
aDo go faster, Billy-can't youS" she
implored.
She made an Intellectual attempt TO apply
the short, worn out whip-ineffactual be-
cause in her nervous haste IT slioned from
her hand and fell under the wagon, She
would hardly have stopped TO recover It
then had it been made of gold,
Billy was deplorably safe animal. to say
the least. He had no fear of going through
the Leaver woods upon the darkest nigh
ever made, HIS nerves were proof against
the apparition of white rocks at the road
side, locomotive whistles. and the whole
catalogue of equine terrors. Nothing could
inducs him to break into a run. his hest
speed was measured amble.
$50, go.-Bily!" the girl kept CRYING. 10
the hope of arousing the animal from his
chronic apathy.
1t was Of no use. The clouds rose and
thickenod, and the wooded aisles were per
ysded by midnight gloom.
A gusty breeas sprang uu. soughiup SOL
EMMY through the tree-tops, and the dia-
Aant nutteripg of thunder portended a sim,
ner storm.
II can surely reach home befora II rains ,,
Mile assured herself. - "'
And to brace up her waning COURAGE. she
began humming again.
Then, as il to show what helpless orea-
ture she should be in the hands of a per-
verse fate, something about the harness
went s'twsug," and Billy came to a dead
halt.
81 wonder II it is one of the traees or I.
hold back! Millie exclaimed. peeripg over
the dashboard. W.
But she could see absolutely nothing
save Billy's uucouth outlines,
eSomething must have giyan way. And
oh, dear, l don't care to yet out to find
out the troublev'
Just then she beheId the figure Of 4 man
stalk forth from the deeper shadows Of the
treas-a tall man. who carried somethinp
over his shoulder thar might have been a
gun, and whose heavy boots made a olump-
ING sound as he advanced tn the side of the
wagon and peered I'm at the shr;nk;no ~
supant. ~
''En, young lady, he exclaimed. and
he took off his broad. brimmed straw hat.
adding, in deferentiai tone; I beg pardon,
really. but I was about To reoue.t = r;ss a.
far as the next bouse Didn't think nf II
being q lady. Hope | didn't Brighten
youP''
s.N-no,' Millie faltered. for she xas
trembling like an aspen leaf
I'm Paul Bronson. the civil engipear
who ia surveying for the new railway line.
and I'm peaceabiy disposed. be exniained.
sThey said I could find board at one MAJ
tin Leaver 3, first hou.e beyord tbe strin-
OF woods. tt
81 am Mr.. Leaver's daughter" Mile 10
terrupted, her heart giving great throb Of
relief
ssThen, if you don't mind. I'll share the